Think outside the box when heading to Europe

The continent of Europe offers a vast array of experiences for tourists and backpackers alike, with different countries holding very different opportunities. Areas of Spain benefit from practically year-round sunshine, while Italy boasts the wonderful history of Rome and various cheap travel options.

But there are plenty of places that are often neglected by those making holiday plans and one expert reckons that Greece is one of them.

Theo Papathanasiou, Greek desk manager at foreign exchange broker World First, has highlighted the country as one that offers a fantastic climate, while English is widely spoken.

He explained that it has been a "poor relation" to the likes of France, but we backpackers are no strangers to places a little off the beaten track, are we?

If you're looking for a new experience it certainly could be a great place to check out and with plenty of hostels available, it doesn't have to be an expensive investigation.

Referring to the attractions of Greece, Mr Papathanasiou said: "There are many unique historical sites and ambience of antiquity and ancient times that drive people here for holidays."

And he suggested the country is generally much less expensive than others in Europe, which could make cheap travel to Athens a good option. "Greece has been and remains at large so much cheaper than the equivalent destinations elsewhere in the sun," the expert stated.

It comes after Elisabeth Dobson, also from World First, suggested that tourists might want to rethink their plans when it comes to cash. She contradicted the idea that you shouldn't make withdrawals abroad, as the weakening euro means using an ATM is no longer a bad idea in many cases.